Minutes - Corona-Norco Unified School District

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CNUSD Board Minutes April 5, 2011 high school administrative teams, including counselors, for site-based discussions that will continue with their staff. Presentations are also planned at an upcoming counselors’ meeting and to the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council. The College & Career Readiness Initiative will be launched on Thursday, April 28, with a meeting of business and community leaders. Mrs. Skipworth commented that Good Morning Corona and a large job fair in the city are scheduled on that date, and Mr. Zickefoose added that a UNITY meeting is also being held that day. (The College & Career Readiness Initiative was rescheduled later in the week to Thursday, May 5, 8:30- 10:30 in the District Office Learning Center South conference room.) CNUSD Passport to Success will establish a path so students are college/career ready when they graduate from the District. Dr. Taylor reviewed the three components to be developed by subcommittees: • The CNUSD Promise – (1) To address the widespread concern about the large percentage of students entering college who require remediation, the District is working with the Cal State system to have them adopt our Grade 12 Language Arts class. This follows District implementation two years ago of Cal State’s ERWC (Expository, Reading and Writing Course) in Grade 12 Language Arts and General English classes. For those students who take the EAP (Early Assessment Program) Grade 11 college placement test and are in need of remediation, the Cal State-adopted class will count as that remediation if a student passes with a B grade or better. (2) The District will improve use of and expand articulation agreements, credits recognized by RCCD and four-year colleges. (3) Cal State has invited the District to submit an MOU that will grant students guaranteed admission to its universities if specified requirements are met. The District plans to work with other colleges as well. • Exploration of Skills and Competencies – Another subcommittee will approach businesses for input on skills and competencies our students need to be more successful, whether right out of high school, or after two years or four years of college. • Classroom Application – A subcommittee will study classroom implementation, which will be addressed appropriately to ensure it is well received. Mrs. Sciortino suggested that the District contact Juan Sepulveda, White House official, and referred to a recent news article about his focus on the Inland region. She said that CNUSD has the strategy he is interested in and added this may be an opportunity for future funding. Dr. Lalas suggested a possible partnership with the University of Redlands. Dr. Taylor displayed the webpage for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and noted their “Seven Keys to College Readiness” that identifies steps beginning in kindergarten to guide parents and provide a pathway for students to follow that will increase their chances of being ready for and successful in college. The webpage is interactive and has a parent link that is available in different languages. Board members responded to Dr. Taylor’s request for feedback: • Dr. Lalas questioned what Montgomery County Public Schools is doing differently in terms of curriculum and instruction. Dr. Bechler responded that CNUSD has the components in place, but the focus needs to be narrower and the push needs to be stronger for an earlier college emphasis. Dr. Lalas commented that college is a concept, and that it is our responsibility to create this vision for our community and ensure everyone will be college ready. • Mrs. Skipworth stated that the key is going to be community buy-in and will require a huge shift in community perception. She added it will be a long, hard, very expensive commitment, and that if this is something the Board wants to do, - 2 -
CNUSD Board Minutes April 5, 2011 it will need to spend money first on professional marketing. She indicated that the MCPS website is cumbersome and not user friendly, and that it needs to be more interactive. • Mrs. Sciortino agreed it will take tremendous marketing, starting in kindergarten. With regard to the MCPS website, she commented that she liked the step-by-step guidance. Mrs. Sciortino inquired about the possibility of piloting Passport to Success at Chavez K-8 School. • Mr. Zickefoose remarked that the MCPS website is daunting, adding he likes simplicity. He stated that although we need to engage business partners and the community, parents need to be the biggest focus. • Mr. Newberry agreed with Mrs. Skipworth that the MCPS website, from a business side, is complicated and that the parent link needs to be more user friendly. He agreed that the key to the Passport to Success initiative is going to be marketing, as it will take a major effort to create awareness with parents. He added that it must be communicated effectively, and that we must create brand awareness and display the slogan everywhere. Dr. Bechler commented that he has had conversations with the Riverside County superintendent about developing a college emphasis culture in the county, because as CNUSD moves forward, it would be beneficial if the county moves in the same direction. He added it will take time to change the culture and once the Board commits, it will not be just another initiative -- it will be our all-consuming mission and purpose. He noted that not everyone will agree with the rigor and minimum requirements for a high school diploma. II-C Dual Language Immersion Assistant Superintendent Dr. David Hansen presented an update on the Dual Language Immersion Program and proposed expansion. He reviewed that the program was implemented at Garretson and Washington Elementary Schools in 2002 and at River Heights Intermediate School in 2009. It will be implemented at Roosevelt High School in 2011-12 to complete the K-12 program. With regard to the proposed expansion of the program at the elementary level in 20110-12, the District reviewed proposals from Barton, Home Gardens, Parkridge and Vicentia Elementary Schools with respect to staffing, BCLAD credentials, number of English-only and English-learner students, facilities, availability of space, location, and student enrollment. Current waiting lists were also reviewed. Dr. Hansen concluded that the Dual Language Immersion Program be expanded to Home Gardens Elementary School in 2011-12. Barton, Parkridge and Vicentia were not selected due to facility space, lack of BCLAD credentials or lack of stability due to a high student transient rate. Because the Eastvale area has students on the current waiting list and because they will have a 7-12 program, the proposed program has been discussed with Harada Elementary School Principal Dr. Jo Melillo-Long for implementation, most likely, the 2012-13 school year. Mrs. Sciortino inquired about costs involved to expand the program. Dr. Bechler responded that costs are minimal; the District looks at staffing and BCLAD credentials so that hiring and involuntary transfers are not necessary. In response to a question from Mrs. Sciortino, Dr. Bechler reported that class sizes are large. Mr. Zickefoose asked about the academic scores for students in the program, and Dr. Bechler responded that they are high. Dr. Lalas also requested additional information on the academic achievement of Dual Language Immersion students. II-D Home Gardens K-8 Dr. Bechler inquired if the Board was ready to take action on the conversion of Home and Name Change Gardens Elementary School to a K-8 configuration, effective 2012-13, and the proposed name change to Home Gardens Academy. Board members agreed to agendize the item at the next regular Board meeting. Mrs. Sciortino requested that a name change for Chavez K-8 School be agendized at the same time. - 3 -
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Minutes - Corona-Norco Unified School District

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